44

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

January 2, 1914.

does not occur until a much higher temperature is
reached, usually beyond 350 degs. Cent.” Fourthly,
they say : “ The temperature at which autogenous oxida-
tion begins is the sum of numerous temperature com-
ponents ”—a rather vague statement—“ each of which,
either because of its own contribution to the total heat
quantity, or because of its function as a stimulus for
chemical activities, must be looked upon as a dangerous
factor, tending directly to the ultimate result of active
combustion throughout the mass ”; and then they
enumerate some of the more important factors which
contribute towards this end, setting up an autogenous
oxidation. One of these factors may be an external
source of heat, which is, of course, obvious. Secondly,
fineness of division of the coal, because it is exposing
more surface. Thirdly, the presence of easily oxidisable
compounds in the coal, by which is meant in the coal
substance itself; and they draw attention to the fact,
which is now pretty generally recognised, that different
coals vary greatly in the amount and character of readily
oxidisable organic constituents. The fourth conclusion
is the presence of iron pyrites. This they regard as a
subsidiary factor, subsidiary to the other, but still as
having a possible importance. The fifth factor that
they mention is moisture. Now moisture, they claim, is
essential to pyritic oxidation. They have found that in
coal, with conditions otherwise favourable to oxidation,
the oxidation will be facilitated by moisture. As to
whether this included moisture of composition, Prof.
Bone thought was such an important point that it
ought to be very carefully investigated.

Parr and Kressman’s Experiments.

Then with regard to the oxidation of carbon and
hydrogen, they seemed to infer that up to a temperature
of 120 degs. there is no actual liberation of oxodised
gaseous products from the coal. Up to that tempera-
ture there is an absorption of oxygen. It may be that
this “absorbed” oxygen is chemically combined with
the coal substance, but there is nothing given oft, either
oxides or carbon or steam, up to a temperature of
120 degs. Cent.; above this temperature oxidation
products such as C02 and steam do appear. What
occurs belaw that temperature is either an absorption of
oxygen in an occluded form, or the formation of some
oxygenated complex, which is of a solid character in the
coal, It was a matter which he did not care to positively
say very much about, but he took it that they might
have oxygen chemically united with the coal substance
—that is to say, with carbon and hydrogen, in the form
of an hydroxyl group or a carbonyl group, certainly in
some way or other attached and fastened to the carbon
and the hydrogen below that temperature. Of course,
it will give off heat, because the actual oxidation of the
hydrogen and carbon to the hydroxyl in the coal will
give off heat, but there is nothing which will be liberated
in the form of gaseous combustion products until
120 degs. is reached. Then there is another stage in the
process—namely, at temperatures above 200 degs. Cent,
in air, where the oxidation becomes autogenous.

Wheeler’s Tests.

Witness said his own opinion was that, in the
first place, there was no doubt coal without pyrites
is capable of absorbing and probably entering into
chemical combination with oxygen. It was not a
mere occlusion of oxygen, but chemically united
with the coal substance to form an oxygenated
coal substance. He next referred to the researches of
Wheeler and Khead. He thought that certainly both
types of constituents would be capable of absorbing
oxygen at fairly low temperatures, but that the resinous
constituents would absorb it rather the more energetically
of the two; It would be of great interest to determine,
as could be done by properly carried out experiments
of a crucial character, whether that oxygen so absorbed
is in the occluded form, or has actually come into a
loose chemical combination. He hazarded the opinion
that it was the actual combination of the oxygen in that
loose way with the coal substance which gives rise to
the initial evolution of heat, and which serves to raise
gradually the temperature of the coal; in such circum-
stances, and to a degree dependent upon the conditions
of heat conservation, the temperature will rise until the
heat evolution is just balanced by radiation losses, when
a temperature equilibrium is obtained. Provided the
air supply is sufficient, there is no doubt this absorption
of oxygen increases in rapidity with rising temperature,
and so the process will go on, if the heat is conserved,
at a sort of compound interest rate ; the activity of the
process and the amount of oxygen which is finally
absorbed will depend on the character of the coal
substance, of course. Some of the Continental observers
say it is known that coals contain substances of an
unsaturated chemical character such as combine
ordinarily with bromine, and that those substances also
absorb oxygen. Prof. Fischer, of G-ottingen, as a
practical test, recommended shaking a gramme of
finely pulverised coal with 20 cubic centimetres of semi-
normal bromine solution for five minutes, when, if the
whole of the bromine has not disappeared (which can
be judged by the smell of the bromine remaining), the
coal may be safely stored.

Prof. Bone also alluded to the point mentioned by
Dr. Wheeler—namely, that the coals which are most
liable to spontaneous oxidation are those which are
already fairly well oxygenated, and therefore contain a
fair amount of oxygen. This rather recalled to his
mind some of his own experiences in the oxidation of
hydrocarbons ; for instance, in the case of ethane, which
on oxidation gives rise first of all to et hy 1-al coh ol, he
found that after the first oxygen had entered—that is,
after the first hydrogen atom was oxidised to OH—the
second hydrogen atom was much more readily oxidised
than the first. For instance, alcohol is much more
rapidly oxidised than the hydrocarbon from which it is
derived by oxidation. The first oxygen atom which

goes in, so to speak, shows the way for the other to
follow. He thought that was a very interesting point
on which work might be done.

(To be continued.)

THE FREIGHT MARKET.

In view of the Christmas and New Year holidays, business
in the outward freight market has been of very limited
dimensions this week. North-east coast rates continue to
be based on very low figures. There is a considerable
surplus of tonnage and comparatively little demand, besides
which operations at the collieries and shipping places are
being much hampered by wintry weather, and turns are
becoming affected, portending some awkwardness when the
work of production and distribution of coal is fully resumed
after the holidays. Coasting business is based on 3s. to
London and 3s. 6d. to Hamburg, from the Tyne. The Bay
is worth 4s. 6d. to Rochefort, and 4s. 7|d. to Bordeaux. The
Baltic has Elsinore at 4s. 9d. The Mediterranean is still
worth 7s. l|d. to Genoa. At South Wales chartering has
been fairly active. Mediterranean rates for large boats are
much firmer. There is a better tone for the River Plate,
Brazils and the Islands. The Bay and coasting directions
are quiet. At Glasgow only a small business is reported, at
about unaltered figures. The Humber market is quiet, with
the general feeling coinciding with that of the north-east
coast. Homewards, New York advices report only a small
amount of chartering, at rates which show little alteration.
The main demand is for early positions, and later loading is
neglected. Grain enquiries are fairly numerous. Tyne
chartering business is still at nominally unaltered quota-
tions. The Black Sea quotations are at lower figures. India
is steady for January-February loading. The Plate is
weaker. Australia is well maintained. Business for the
Mediterranean and ore trades and for the Baltic is sub-
stantially firm.

Tyne to Bordeaux, 3,000, 4s. 7|d. ; Constantinople, 4,200,
7s. 9d., 400, from Dunston ; 3,000, 7s. 8d., 400; 4,300, 7s. 9d.;
Calais, 2,800, 3s. 4|d. ; Civita Vecchia, 4,700, 8s, 500;
Elsinore, 1,250, 4s. 9d.; Genoa, 4.700, 7s. 1U1.; Havre, 2,000,
4s., from Dunston ; London, 2,100, 3s.; Mazziron, 1,300, 9s.,
coke, from Dunston ; Novorossisk, 5,000, 8s. 9d. ; Naples,
2,600, 7s., 700, 101., from Dunston ; Rochefort, 2,800, 4s. 6d.;
St. Petersburg, 2,500-3,000, 5s., July next year ; Trieste,
5,000, 7s. 9d., 500, from Dunston.

Cardiff to Ancona, 4,000,8s. 6d.; 4,000, 8s.; 5,500, 8s 6d.;
Alexandria, 5,000, 7s. 6d. ; Algiers, 4,500, 7$ fr. ; 3,800,
7| fr.; 2,700, 7i fr., January ; 1,250, 8 fr.; Barcelona, 3,200,
8s.; 1,800, 7s. 6d., January 5; Bombay, 10s. 6d., January,
reported; 10s. 6d., February ; Bari, 3,200, 8s., 500. January;
Constantinople, 3,300, 7s. 9d., January 5 ; 4,400, 7s. 9d.,
January 10; Civita Vecchia, 4.000, 8s., January 5; 3,800,
8s., 400, January 5; 3,200, 8s., January 5; Colombo, 5,000,
9s. 3d., January ; Cadiz, 1,200, 7s.; Colastine, 3,400,15s. 9d.;
Campana, 3,400, 13s., January; Calais, 1,200, 4l 3d.; Cape
Verds, 2,000, 7s. 6d.; Carthagena, 1,300, 7s, January 6;
Gaeta, 4,800, 8s., 500; Genoa, 6,800, 7s.; 4,800, 7s.; 4,800,
7s. 3d. ; 7,000, 6s. 9d.; 2,500, 7s. 6d. ; 5,000, 7s. 6d.;
Gibraltar, 1,500, 6s., 500, January 5 ; 1,600, 6s. l|d.; 3,200,
3s. 9d., Admiralty ; 2,600, ditto, ditto ; Havre, 3,200, 4s. 4^d.;

2,900,	4s. 6d.; 3,000, 4s. 3d. ; 1,900, 4s. l|d. ; Honfleur,
1,000, 4s. 6d. ; Islands, 3,700, 7s. 6d.; 2,700, 7s., January 7;
Lisbon, 2,800, 4s. 9d., 500 ; Libau, 1,300, 6s. 9d.; 1,450, p.t.;
3,000, 5s. 9d.; 2,000, 5s. 6d., 350, January- 9; Leghorn,
5,000, 7s. 6d., 500; 7,300, 7s. 6d., Genoa terms, January 1-9;

2,900,	7s. 6d. ; Las Palmas, 2,700, 7s. ; 3,200, 7s. 6d.;

3.400,	7s.; Morlaix, 550, 5s. 9d., second voyage; Madeira,

2.700,	7s.; Marseilles, 4,500, 81 fr.; 3,800,8| fr.; 5,000, 8| fr.,
January 2; Naples, 5,100, 7s. 6d. ; 5,000, 7s. 6d., 500;
Nantes, 1,700, 5|fr.; 1,400, 51 fr.; Port Said, 5,200, 7s.;
5,300,6s.; Piraeus, 4,700, 7s. 3d., January 5; Palma, 1,650,
7s.; River Plate, 5,000, 13s., January 7; 4,200, 13s.,
January 6 ; 6,000, 13s. ; Rosario, 3,400, 13s. 6d.; 4,000,
13s. 6d.; Savona, 5,000, 7s. 3d.; 6,800, 7s.; St. Nazaire, 700,
61 fr.; Syracuse, 2,700, 8s. 3d.; Spezzia, 6,800, 7s.; Syra,

4.700,	7s. 3d., January 5; Sables, 1,650, 51 fr.; St. Vincent,
2,300, 7s. 9d.; Santa Liberata, 2,700, 8 l, 400, January 7 ;
St. Malo, 1,400, 4s. 9d.; 1,900, 4s. lid.; 700, 5s.; Sheerness,
600, 4s. 3d.; Santa Fe, 3,400, 15s. 9d-; Torre Annunziata,
4,000, 8s ,400, January 5; 3,200, 8s., January 5; Teneriffe,
3,200, 7s. 6d.; Villa Constitucion, 3,400, 13s., January;
Venice, 5,900, 8s. 6d., 500, January 9; Zea, 4,600, 7s. 3d.

Swansea to Genoa, 1,400, 8s.; Bordeaux, 2,700, 6 fr.;
Aalborg, 2,000, 5s.; 3,000, 5s.; Belfast, 300, 4s. 3d.; Mar-
seilles, 9 fr.; Civita Vecchia, 1,700, 8s. 41d. coal, 9s. lid.
fuel; Sables, 950, 6fr.; Brest, 1,750, 4s. 3d. ; London, 1,200,
4s.; Barletta, 2,800, 8s. 6d. coal, 9s. 3d. fuel; St. Malo,
1,100, 4s. 6d.

Blyth to Savona, 3,300, 7s., 500; Norrkoping, 1,800,
5s. lid.; Libau, 1,300, 5s. 3d.; Riga, 1,900, 5s. 6d.

Wales to West Coast South America, 18s. 711., fuel,
January 20

Neath Abbey to Dieppe, 2,000, 5s. 3d.

Hull to Reval, 1,600, 5s» 3d.; Odessa, 5,000, 8s. 3d.

Boston to Havre, 700, 5s.; Libau, 1,300, 5s. 3d.

Hamburg to Pensacola, 2,800, 9s. 3d., kainit, January;
Charleston, 3,800, 9s. 3d., kainit, January ; Chilian copper
port, sail, 19s. 6d., coke.

Rotterdam to St. Nazaire, 3,400, 4s. 3d., 480, 4s. lid., 580,
Trignac terms, January 3; 3,300, 4s. lid. coal, 4s. 10|d.
fuel, January 2 ; 4,200, 4s. 4£d., 480, 4s. 3d., 580, Trignac
terms; Bilbao, 3,800, 4s. 4|d.; Venice, 4,000, 8s. coal,
8s. 9d. fuel, 10s. coke; Bordeaux, 3,300, 4s. 4|d.; 3,800,
4s. 6d. coal, 6s. 6d. coke; 2,000, 4s. 4|d.; 3,300, 4s. 4|d. coal,
5s. lid. fuel, early January; Constantinople, 3,700, 7s. 6d.
coal, 8s. 3d. fuel; Genoa, 4,600, 6s. 9d., option 500 tons fuel
same freight, January 2; Marseilles, 4,500, 8 fr., 4,600,
7|fr., 700, 3,000, 8fr.; Porto Vecchio di Piombino, 4,600,
7s. 3d., January 3; Dieppe, 2,300, 4s. 4|d.; 2 000,4s. 41d.,
January 5; La Rochelle, 2,350,4s.; 2 350,4s. lid., January 2;
Chantenay, 2,550, 4s. 3d., January 10-12; Bagnoli-Porto
Ferrajo, 4,500-4,600, 6s. 6d., January 2 ; Algiers, 4,200. 7fr.

Newport to Gibraltar, 1,600, 6s. lid.; 1,550, 6s.; Saville,

1.400,	7s., January 7; Villaricos, 1,100, 8s. 6d.; Marseilles,
3,800, 81-fr.; Suez, 5,300, 9s. 6d.; Naples, 7s. 3d., 800,
January.

Methil to Libau, 2,000, 5s. 3d.; Chantenay, 1,600, 4s. 9d.

Emden to Bordeaux, 1,800, 5s. lid.; Piraeus, 4,800,
8-121 fr.

Newport River to Bona, 1,600, 11 fr.,fuel.

Port Talbot to Genoa, 2,200, 7s. 6d.; Savona, 2,2 30, 7s. 6d.

Seaham Harbour to Nykjobing, 1,050, 4s. 9d.

Wear to Bayonne, 2,800, 4s. 101d., 400 ; Konigsberg,

1.700,	4s. 3d.

Tees to Hongay, 2,000, 20s., pitch, free loading and
discharge.

Leith to Kiel, 1,950, 4s. 9d.

Forth to Amsterdam, 1,000, 3s. 6d.; Konigsberg Town,
1,150, 6s.

Fife Port to Genoa, 7s. 6d., early January ; Savona, 7s 6d.,
early January ; Leghorn, 7s. 6d., early January.

Goole to Fredrikstadt, 750, 5s. 9d.

Grimsby to Oporto, 1,100, 8s. 6d.

Llanelly to Dieppe, 800, 5s. 3d.

Homeward charters:—South Australia, 6,000, 10 per
cent, United Kingdom-Continent, 32s. 9d., January ; 6,000,
10 per cent., 30s. 6d., with options, February; 5,400, 30s.,
United Kingdom-Continent, option, 27s. 6d. Cape, March ;
Burmah, 4,500-4,900, Antwerp, Holland, Weser, Hamburg,
23s. 9d., with options, January; 3,080 net, 23s. 9d., o.c.,
February; 6,000-7,000, Holland, 23s. 9d., February; 3,067 net,
Holland or Hamburg, 23s. 6d., January ; Bombay, 2,409
net, United Kingdom-Continent, p.p. ; 18s. 6d. one port,
18s. 9d. two ports, 6d. extra France, on d.w., February ;
7,500, 18s. one p.p., 18s. 6d. two p.p., on d.w., January-
February ; 7,000, ditto, ditto, on d.w., January 25-February
25 ; 5,250, 10 per cent., ditto ditto, January-February ;
8,500-9,000, Mediterranean two ports, 18s. on d.w., January
80-31 ; Nicolaieff or Odessa, 6,000, London or Rotterdam,
7s., Emden or Weser 7s. 3d., Hamburg 7s. 6d., with 3d. less
barley, ppt. ; Sapelo, 1,000 stds., United Kingdom-Conti-
nent, p.p., 75s. one port, 77s. 6d. two ports, February-
March ; Rosario, not above, 4,500, 10 per cent., United
Kingdom-Continent, 12s. o.c., no reduction direct, 3d. less
if Villa Constitucion loading, ppt. ; Port Arthur, 2,775 net,
Philippines or South China, including Legaspu, 23 cents one
port, 23| cents two ports, 24 cents three ports ; Gulf timber
port, sail, 13 87| dols., River Plate, March; Portland, Or.,
sail, 30a., United Kingdom-Continent, wheat; Sapelo, 1,000
stds., United Kingdom-Continent, 75s. one port, 77s. 6d. two
ports, February-March; West Australia, 47s. 9d., London or
Liverpool, March-April ; South Australia, Melbourne, Gee-
long, 32s. 9d., United Kingdom-Cont., early January ; 30s. 6d.,
February ; 30s. and 27s. 6d., February-March ; Sulina, 5,200,
Antwerp or Rotterdam, 6s. 9d., 3d. less barley, 1,000 tons,
ppt. ; 3,300 max., United Kingdom-Continent, 8s., n.c. or
any, 6d. extra Hamburg, January 1-15 ; 3,500, 8s., n.c. or
any, 8s. 6d. Hamburg, ppt. ; 3,500, Belfast, 7s. 9d., ppt;
4,100, Marseilles and St. Louis du Rhone, 8 fr., option 600
tons oats 2 fr. extra, ppt. ; Bilbao, 1,800, Middlesbrough,
4s. 6 J., ppt.; 2,900, 4s. 3d., ppt.; 2,100,4s. 3d., option Castro
Alen loading 4s. 6cl., ppt. ; 3,500, Dunkirk, 4s. 7|d., ppk ;
Iviza, 1,200 max., Faroe, one port, 12s., salt, December 25-
January 10 ; Algiers, 3,500, Rotterdam, 4s. 6d., ppt.; Bizerta,

4.700,	Rotterdam, 6s. 3d., January ; Aviles, 2,500, Rotterdam,

4s. 6d., ppt. ; Passages, 1,600, Rotterdam, 4s. 3d., early
January; Philadelphia or Baltimore, 21,000qrs.max., Barry
Dock, Is. ll|d., January ; Norfolk, 2,375 net, Monte Video,
15s., January ; Bahia Blanca, 6,500, 10 per cent., United
Kingdom-Continent, p.p., 15s., oats, no reduction direct,
ppt. ;	5,500, 10 per cent., 15s. oats, 1,500 tons

heavy 2s. less, no reduction direct, ppt. ; Saigon,
1,946 net, Havre or Dunkirk 24s., Bordeaux or Nantes
25s. l|d., February • Calcutta, 2,305 net, Bombay, Rs. 6,
January ; Poti, 5,000, Garston, 9s. 6d., January ;
Nicolaieff, 4,500, Rotterdam, 5s.	6d., ore, ppt. ;

Danube, 5,700, Antwerp or Rotterdam 8s. 3d., Hamburg
8s. 9d., with 3d. less barley and 1,000 tons oats Is. 6d. extra,
spot; nitrate ports, sail, 19s. 6d., United Kingdom-Con-
tinent, less 9d., ppt.; Newcastle, N.S.W., sail, 23s., West
Coast South America; Weston Point or Runcorn, 9s. 6d.,
Calcutta, salt, January; Sagunto, 3,000, Kratzwick, 6s. 3d.,
ppt.; La Goulette, 1,330 net, East Coast United Kingdom,
6s., ppt. ; 1,559 net, 6s., ppt.; 5,000, Rotterdam, 5s. 3d., early
January ; La Plata, 5,000, 10 per cent.; London, 10s. 6d., no
reduction direct, ppt.; Sfax, 2,600, Rouen, 7s. 3d., ppt.; San
Juan, 2,500, Rotterdam, 6s. 3d., early January ; Santander,

2,900,	Rotterdam, 4s. 3d., early January; Bayonne, 1,300,
Cardiff, 6s., early January ; New York, 5,600, Australia, four
ports, lump sum, .£7,800, January; Kurrachee, 7,100,
Antwerp, 13s. 10|d., 3,000 tons light guaranteed, January-
February ; Sulina, Kustendje, Novorossisk or Theodosia,
20,000 qrs., 10 per cent., 400, 7s. 9d. n.c. or any, 8s. 3d.
Hamburg, ppt.; time charter, States and West Indies trade,
3s. 3d., one round trip, delivery and redelivery North of
Hatteras; time charter, Eastern trade, 4s., 12 months,
delivery and redelivery, Australia, ppt.

OBITOMT,

The funeral took place on Monday, at St. Peter’s Church,
Halliwell, Bolton, of Mr. J. Herbert Rothwell, managing
director of the Doff cocker Colliery and Pipe Works, Bolton,
who was killed through falling down the pit shaft on
Christmas Eve. Representatives from various public bodies
attended the last rites. There were numerous and beautiful
floral tributes. The deceased gentleman was only 39 years
years of age.

The death is announced of Mr. Thomas Lewis Thomas,
Resolven, who was for many years under-manager at
Messrs. Cory Brothers’ Glyncastle Collieries.

Mr. John E. Watkins, of Victoria Gardens-road, Neath,
passed away on 27th ult. He was formerly the secretary
of the Eaglesbush Collieries.

Hull Goal Exports,—The official return of the exports of
coal from Hull for the week ending Tuesday, December 23,
1913, is as follows:—Amsterdam, 808 tons; Algiers, 255 ;
Alexandria, 7,486 ; Antwerp, 365 ; Bremen, 1,745 ; Bordeaux,
2,039; Bombay, 512; Copenhagen, 426, Christiansund, 25 ;
Christiania, 401; Drontheim, 202 ; Gefle, 4,260; Gothenburg,
147; Ghent, 414; Hamburg, 6,094 ; Harlingen, 1,358 ; Kiel,
1,396 ; Lisbon, 2,235 ; Landscrona, 349 ; Libau, 2,724 ;
Novorossisk, 6,117 ; Odessa, 1,712 ; Port Said, 4,937 ;
Rendsburg, 404, Reval, 1,295; Rouen, 9,820; Riga, 16,817;
Stockholm, 564 ; Rotterdam, 1,237 ; Trelleborg, 1,622 ;
Venice, 303; Wasa, 300—total, 78,369 tons. Corresponding
period December 1912, total 66,888 tons.